Undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as part of lifelong learning is essential to being a professional forester. Creation of a competent, innovative, forward-looking professionals, as well as the individual who has attained by proactive and targeted learning.
Each FSK member is encouraged to assess his or her own professional development needs, to set out a professional development plan and to assess how best to achieve its objectives through CPD.
Benefits of Continuous Professional Development.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the structured maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills and the development of personal qualities that are necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner’s working life.
Why is it necessary? There are many reasons for undertaking CPD as a professional forester, such as:
- To remain competent for the benefit of the members client
- To remain competent for the benefit of a members employer
- To remain up-to-date with new developments in an area of expertise
- To gain knowledge to move into a new area of business
- To develop a skill needed for promotion, such as management expertise
- To keep abreast of new advances in technology
- To comply with a statutory requirement
In addition, the Society requires the commitment of its members to CPD to maintain the standing of the Society amongst other professions.
What is the requirement for members?.
How much learning a member needs to undertake depends on individual circumstances and learning needs to enable them to do their work competently. The outcome of the learning is as important as the number of hours spent on it or the points claimed. However, the society expects all her members to undertake CPD with a minimum of 50 points every year so as to get the annual membership certificate, which normally equates to 150 points in three years.
What are CPD activities?
CPD activities are seen as embracing the wider aspects of the work of a professional forester. There are a wide range of activities that qualify as CPD and although attendance at formal training courses and workshops may be most effective for many members, the Society recognizes that professional development may be achieved through a much wider range of activities.
Attached is a guideline of the various categories of activities that members can undertake to earn their CPD points.
Recording your CPD
It is the responsibility of each member to record his/her CPD activities for the year with the society. FSK members are required to file CPD returns indicating the CPD activities they have been involved in during the year
To record your CPD, click FSK Online CPD platform
Use the CPD manual to guide you on how to claim your points (downloadable under the publication section).
TOKEN CLAIMS refer to activities organized by FSK and given token Numbers,
NON TOKEN CLAIMS are the activity which members engage in and have a proof/evidence such as invitation letter, certificate, minutes etc as indicated in the CPD category (downloadable under the publication section).
